Crusher release clearing system

ABSTRACT

This is concerned with a pneumatic loading, release and clearance system for cone crushers and is more specifically concerned with a system that can be used with a plurality of crushers, for example two. It is also concerned with a system that, in addition to fully releasing the pneumatic pressure between the main frame and tilting ring of a crusher, also has a hydraulically-operated system for elevating the tilting ring and bowl so that a plugged or jammed crusher can be cleared. It is also concerned with a pneumatic release system which is specifically constructed so that it may be substituted for the conventional spring-release system on machines now in the field with a minimum of time, effort and expense.

United States Patent [191 Filed:

Gasparac et al.

CRUSHER RELEASE CLEARING SYSTEM Inventors: Rudolph J. Gasparac; RobertJ.

.Pokora; Ulhas S. Sawant, all of Milwaukee, Wis.

US. Cl. 241/37, 241/20 T, 241/290 Int. Cl. B02c 25/00 Field of Search241/32, 33, 37, 207, 208,

8 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Werner 241/20 T Symons et a1241/32 X Gruender 241/215 Becker 241/290 X Gruender 241/290 [451 Apr.16, 1974 3,140,835 7/1964 Balmer et a1. 241/215 X PrimaryExaminer-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Parkezr,Plyer & McEachra [57] ABSTRACT This is concerned with a pneumaticloading, release and clearance system for cone crushers and is morespecifically concerned with a system that can be used with a pluralityof crushers, for example two. It is also concerned with a system that,in addition to fully releasing the pneumatic pressure between the mainframe and tilting ring of a crusher, also has a hydraulically-operatedsystem for elevating the tilting ring and bowl so that a plugged orjammed crusher can be cleared. It is also concerned with a pneumaticrelease system which is specifically constructed so that it may besubstituted for the conventional spring-release system on machines nowin the field with a minimum of time, effort and expense.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENI mu 6 m4 sum 3 or 3 CRUSHER RELEASECLEARING SYSTEM SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is concernedwith a pneumatic loading, release and clearance system for cone crushersof the type in which the crushing cavity is defined between a gyratedhead and an overhanging bowl. Cone crushers are normally constructedwith a so-called release system so that when uncrushable material, suchas tramp iron-or large pieces of wood, get stuck in the crushing cavity,the permanent parts of the machine such as the bowl, frame, etc. will beprotected as the release system will allow the permanent parts toseparate. The release system also is constructed so that a pluggedcrusher caused by a power failure or the like may be quickly cleared andrestored to full operation.

A primary object of the invention is a crusher release and clearancesystem which may be used for two or more crushers.

Another object is a clearance system which has a hydraulic or pneumaticarrangement for raising the tilting ring and bowl so that a pluggedcrusher, due to a power failure or the like, can be quickly cleared andrestored to full operation.

Another object is a pneumatic release system for a crusher which, at aminimum expense, may be used to replace conventional spring-releasesystems in the field.

Another object is a pneumatic releasesystem which prevents surgesbetween interconnected crushers.

.Another object is a pneumatic release system for crushers which can bequickly recharged, after release, on a selective basis. I

' Another object is a pneumatic release system for a plurality ofcrushers which enables one crusher system to be isolated and releasedwithout disturbing the release system on other crushers in the system.

Another object is a release system and valving arrangement for aplurality of crushers which provides cone crushers which avoids problemsdue to misalign ment and sideshifts upon bowl tilting.

Another object is an off-line pneumatic release system which may becharged and maintained on standby for use in returning a crusher, afterclearing, to service.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specificationand drawings.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a sectional view of aportion of a crusher with a release cylinder in section;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a release system for two crushers which areshown schematically;

FIG. 3 is a section through a portion of a crusher on a different radialthan FIG. I with the elevating cylinder shown mounted on the main frameweb; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the hydraulic elevating system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1 and 3, the generallycircumferential main frame of the crusher has been indicated with only aportion thereof being illustrated. The main frame has an outstandingflange 12 at or toward the upper end which supports a so-called tiltingor adjustment ring 14, all of which is old and well-known. The tiltingring normally supports a bowl by a screw threaded connection I 15, sothat the bowl may be adjusted up or down in accordance with the desiredsetting for the machine or to compensate for wear of the removable andreplaceable mantle and bowl liner. The frame also encloses the usualcrushing head which is mounted for gyration and has not been shown.

Gyratory cone crushers normally have a so-called spring release whichholds the bowl and tilting ring 14 down on the main frame flange 12.This spring release is constructed and arranged to give or yield so thatwhen a piece of uncrushable material, such as tramp iron or the like,goes through the crushing cavity, the ring can tilt up compressing thespring release and allowing the object to pass. Springs as the releasemeans have the disadvantage that, on large machines, they oc' cupy agreat deal of space and cannot be released easily. It is often desirableto clear a plugged or stuck crusher. The springs as a group provide atremendous force which create an insuperable obstacle to jacking up thebowl and tilting ring.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 a pneumatic cylinder I6 is interposedbetween the bottom surface 18 of the main frame flange and a lower plateor retainer 20. While only one cylinder 16 is shown in FIG. I, it willbe understood that a plurality of cylinders is used, in the generalarrangement in FIG. 2 and described in detail hereafter. The cylindersare positioned about the crusher so that the yielding force is generallyuniform all the way around. Bolts 22 pass through the main frame flange,tilting ring and retainer plate with a semispherical head on one end anda semispherical nut on the other to provide for some misalignment inassembly and under conditions in which the adjustment ring is liftedduring the passage of tramp metal. For each cylinder'l6, three suchbolts are provided, one on each peripheral side 'of the cylinder and oneinside and aligned with it radially.

The cylinder itself is made up of two telescoping sleeves or cylinders,a larger one 24 and a smaller one 26. Suitable seals'27 and guidebearings 28 are provided between the outside of the smaller one and theinside of the larger one. In the arrangement shown, the

larger sleeve 24 is on top with the smaller one below but it might bereversed. The bottom of the smaller sleeve is closed by an end platedisc 30 which may be suitably welded thereto, as at'32, with the endplate being welded or otherwise suitably connected at 34 to the retaineror lower plate 20. The top of the upper sleeve is closed by a plate 36which is suitably welded or otherwise connected thereto as at 38 so thatthe cylinder itself is otherwise closed. The: two sleeves overlap for asubstantial distance, as shown in FIG. 1, and a band 40 is shrink fittedaround the outside of the overlap to gain rigidity which limits leakagedue to cylinder expansion.

The top of the cylinder bears against the lower surface 18 of the mainframe flange by a spherical joint 42 which includes a ball 44 contactingthe lower surface of the main frame flange and matching a socket 46mounted on the upper surface of the cylinder. The joint is enclosed by aflexible sleeve 48, which is slightly larger in diameter than the joint,with the dimensions being such that, with the socket fully engaged, thesleeve 48 will be under a predetermined amount of vertical compressionso that a dust-type seal is provided around the joint.

The bottom closure or plate 30 on the cylinder has a suitable passage 50which is connected by a pipe 52 or the like through a suitable opening54 in the bottom retainer to a pneumatic system shown schematically inFIG. 2.

The system itself includes a suitable air compressor 55 or any suitablesource of pressure air. Air from the source is supplied to a suitabledryer and filter 56 through a connection 58 and then through connection60 to a receiver 62 which has valves 64 on each side so it may beisolated. Air from the receiver goes through a branch line, one side 66of which goes to a selector valve 68 of any suitable type which mayselectively supply the air through a line 70 to one crusher 72 orthrough another line 74 to another crusher 76. The piping cylinder,valves, etc. for the two crushers may be the same, so only one will bereferred to in detail. Considering the crusher 72 on the left in FIG. 2,the supply line 70 is connected to a pipe ring 78 which, throughsuitable valves 80, supplies air to each of the cylinders. designated 16in FIG. 2. An exhaust or vent line 82 is connected to the pipe ring and,by a manually operated valve 84, is adapted to vent to the atmosphere asat 86. A branch 88, controlled by pressure release valve 90, alsoprevents overload or excessive pressures in the cylinders byautomatically venting to the atmosphere when a predetermined pressure isreached in the cylinders.

From the receiver 62, an other branch 92 is connected to a pressureregulator 94 and then through a line 96 to a check valve 98 leading to aconnection 100 with the pipe ring'78 through a manual valve 102. Line 96branches so that a separate line 104 leads to the other crusher.

The volume and pressure level of the receiver 62 are such that oneof-the two crushers may be completely vented, for example, in clearing ajam, and then recharged by pressure air from only the receiver to apressure in the cylinder that makes the crusher operative again. As anexample, the cylinders themselves may operate at 1,000 psi with thereceiver at 2,500 psi. The volumes should be related so that when thepres-' sure from the receiver is released through selector valve 68 to acrusher that is down, the pressure will stabilize in the cylinders 16 atsomething on the order of I000 psi in accordance with well-knownpressurevolume relationships for gases.

Branch 66 and selector valve 68 are used to recharge either crusher thathas been vented and released. Branch 96 and pressure reducer 94 make upleakage in either or both crushers at the same time while they are inoperation but are not used during recharging. If the crushers are tooperate with, say, 1000 psi in the cylinders, the regulator 94 willmaintain pressure. To maintain the spatial relationship of the componentparts and prevent disengagement of the cylinder and the spherical joint42 a residual gas pressure may be maintained at all times in thecylinder cavity.

In FIG. 3 a section through the main frame, main frame flange andtilting ring is shown but on a different radial than that of FIG. 1. Atsuitable intervals around the main frame are positioned flanges or web106, on which are mounted hydraulic jacks 108. A plurality of such jacksare used about the crusher and are shown schematically in FIG. 4. Thepiston extension of each jack extends upwardly through a channel or hole112 in the main frame flange to a position opposite the lower surface113 of the tilting ring. Any suitable source 114 supplies pressure oilthrough a selector valve 116 to a manifold 1 18 about the crusher towhich each of the individual jacks 108 is connected. The hydraulicsystem may be provided with a suitable gauge 120 and pressure releasevalve 122 set to prevent the hydraulic pressure from becoming excessive.Each of the jacks 108 has one line 124 with a check valve 126 forsupplying oil to the jack as it extends and another line 128- with arestriction or throttling orifice 130 through which the oil returns on acontrolled basis as the jack comes down.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows.

A pneumatic release system is provided that is especially constructedand adapted as a conversion unit for machines in the field, meaning thatthe springs which are normally used on cone crushers may be removed inthe field and the pneumatic cylinders shown and described here taketheir place. The arrangement requires a minimum of time, effort andtrouble in altering and adapting a crusher in the field. All that isrequired is that the springs be removed, a few holes drilled and thepresent unit installed. This is not to say that the release system shownand described herein cannot or should not be used on original equipmentsince it is equally applicable to either new or field units.

The arrangement is specifically constructed to operate at what may beconsidered a relatively low pneumatic pressure. One thousand psi hasbeen mentioned as an example and although this is not critical, apressure of this low magnitude is desired.

The pneumatic cylinders themselves are constructed to be flat, orrelatively so, on each end so that they will fit between the lowersurfaces of the main frame flange and the upper surface of the metalplate or retainer. The upper surface is provided with a sealed balljoint so that the attitude of the assembly can change, as the unittilts, without kicking out.

The system is also specifically designed to be attached to more than onecrusher. Two have been shown, but it should be understood that, bysuitable connection, more than that could be used. The arrangement shownin FIG. 2 has the advantage that either crusher can be vented and thenrestored to fullline operation in a very short time. In the FIG. 2arrangement assume that the crusher on the left, designated 72, is stuckor plugged. First, valve 102 for crusher 72 will be closed. Then theselector 84 will be opened to vent all of the cylinders to theatmosphere. This relieves all pressure between the main frame andtilting ring, other than gravity. Then selector valve 116 in thehydraulic system is actuated so that the jacks are energized to raisethe bowl and tilting ring.

The amount of raise is that necessary to clear the crusher. The jacks inthis case, as a group, are only required to have just sufficient thrustto raise the dead weight of the bowl and tilting ring with their variousappurtenances as well as to overcome the residual gas pressure in thecylinders. The source of pressure oil, indicated at 114 in FIG. 4, isoptional and a suitable pump may be used. If the crusher is of the typethat has a source of pressure oil already on it, for example forclamping or unclamping and/or rotating the bowl, such as shown in U.S.Pat. No. 3,133,708, issued May 19, 1964 or U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,835,issued July 14, I964, the same source of hydraulic pressure may be used.After the crusher is cleared, the oil pressure is released to lower thetilting ring and bowl. The rate of descent will be controlled by thethrottling orifices 130 to avoid any freefall and accidents. With thebowl and tilting ring back down, the air cylinders will be repressurizedby operating selector valve 68 so that the supply of pressure air fromthe receiver would go to the cylinders on crusher 72. All of this wouldbe done without affecting the cylinders on the other crusher 76 sincethe first crusher 72 would, in effect, be isolated. The air system wouldstabilize at a pressure in the cylinders permitting the crusher to bestarted up immediately. Selector valve 68 would then be returned to theblocking position, shown in FIG. 2 and the compressor 55, when it sensedthe reduced pressure in the receiver, would start up and bring thereceiver back to its higher reserve pressure level. All the time theauxiliary connection 96404 to the other crusher 76 would be compensatingfor leakage, if any was occuring. With both crushers back on the lineand the valve 102 for crusher 72 opened again, normal operation wouldresume.

It is not thought necessary to make the receiver large enough and/or toraise the pressure therein high enough so that sufficient pressure airis available to completely recharge more than one crusher at a time. Itmight also be arranged so that each crusher has its own receiver withone compressor supplying a group of receivers. In either sucharrangement, if any one of the crushers tied into a common system leaks,the regulator 94 will sense it and will automatically bring the pressurein the cylinders on all connected crushers back to the operating level.Or two regulators could be used, one for each crusher.

Also, the system is interconnected by small lines or pipes so that whentramp iron goes through either one crusher and the pressure builds up inits cylinders, a pressure wave will not surge through the system to theother crusher or back to the supply. The lines are also small enough sothat each cylinder on a crusher is, for practical purposes, effectivelyisolated from all the others during surge. If desired, the cylinders maybe interconnected with properly sized connections to reduce peak surgesby utilizing the volume of air or gas in the entire system. 7

A pneumatic release system of this nature will greatly soften or reducethe shock load imposed on the crusher head and main shaft as well as themain frame and adjustment ring assembly caused by the passage of trampiron through the crushing cavity.

Although the details of the particular crusher on which the invention isto be used has not been shown, it should beunderstood that any crusheror bowl structure needs to be released in response to excess crushingstresses is a proper crusher for the application of this release. In theparticular embodiment of the invention shown herein, a plurality ofpneumatic cylinders, be

they filled with air, nitrogen, or otherwise, are adapted to exert anupward thrust against the underside of the main frame flange and adownward thrust to the bowl and tilting ring. While a separate aircompressor has been shown, where a pneumatic supply is maintained in theplant, plant pressure air may be used in the cylinder, or a combinationof the two. While examples have been given of the various pressurelevels involved, these are merely by way of suggestion or illustration.The pressure maintained in the cylinder is sufficient to sustain normalcrushing loads.

One of the advantages of the present system is that for an individualcrusher, venting the pressure in the cylinders is done through aseparate line from the leakage makeup connection. The advantage of thisis that leakage can be taken care of through a quite small connection,whereas discharging and emptying may be done through large piping toinsure a rapid operation.

We claim:

1. In a pneumatic release system for at least two gyratory crushers andthe like, each crusher having a circumferential main frame with acircumferential flange on an upper portion of the main frame and abowlsupporting ring tiltably mounted on and above the main frame flangewith a bowl supported on the ring opposite a crushing head mountedforgyration within the main frame, the release system being constructedto hold the ring normally fixed in relation to the main frame whilepermitting it to tilt upwardly in relation to the main frame in responseto excessive crushing forces at any'point about the main frame, thesystem including a group of pneumatic release cylinder assembliesdisposed about the frame of each crusher with means for causing eachcylinder to bear against both the main frame flange and thebowl-supporting ring so that they pneumatically oppose the crushingstresses as a group, manifold piping interconnecting all such cylinderassemblies on a crusher, a source of pneumatic pressure, a receiverconnected thereto, a supply line from the receiver to each crusher forrefilling the crushers release sytem after venting and clearing, asecond line from the receiver to each crusher to compensate for leakage,and valving in the supply pipe, second line and manifold pipingconstructed and arranged so that any selected crusher may be isolatedfrom the other crushers and its cylinder assemblies vented. so that theselected crusher may be cleared without releasing the pneumatic releasepressure or affecting the leakagecompensating line on the other crushersin the system.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the capacityof the receiveris such and the valving is arranged sothat any oneselected crusher may be vented and recharged from the receiver withoutdisturbing the pressure level in any other crusher in the system and theresulting'equalization pressure between the receiver and the selectedone crusher is adequate for normal operation of the selected onecrusher.

3. In a pneumatic release system for a cone crusher and the like, thecrusher having a circumferential main frame with a circumferentialflange on an upper portion of the main frame and a bowl supporting ringtiltably mounted on and above the main frame flange with a bowlsupported on the ring opposite a crushing head mounted for gyrationwithin the main frame, the release system being constructed to hold thering norpose the crushing stresses as a group, manifold pipinginterconnecting all of the cylinder assemblies on the crusher, a sourceof pneumatic pressure, a receiver connected thereto, a supply line fromthe receiver to the crusher for refilling the crusher release systemafter venting and clearing, a second line from the receiver to thecrusher to compensate for leakage, and valving in the supply line, thesecond line and the manifold piping constructed and arranged so that thecylinder assemblies may be vented and the crusher cleared withoutaffecting the leakage compensating line to the crusher.

1. In a pneumatic release system for at least two gyratory crushers andthe like, each crusher having a circumferential main frame with acircumferential flange on an upper portion of the main frame and abowl-supporting ring tiltably mounted on and above the main frame flangewith a bowl supported on the ring opposite a crushing head mounted forgyration within the main frame, the release system being constructed tohold the ring normally fixed in relation to the main frame whilepermitting it to tilt upwardly in relation to the main frame in responseto excessive crushing forces at any point about the main frame, thesystem including a group of pneumatic release cylinder assembliesdisposed about the frame of each crusher with means for causing eachcylinder to bear against both the main frame flange and thebowl-supporting ring so that they pneumatically oppose the crushingstresses as a group, manifold piping interconnecting all such cylinderassemblies on a crusher, a source of pneumatic pressure, a receiverconnected thereto, a supply line from the receiver to each crusher forrefilling the crusher''s release sytem after venting and clearing, asecond line from the receiver to each crusher to compensate for leakage,and valving in the supply pipe, second line and manifold pipingconstructed and arranged so that any selected crusher may be isolatedfrom the other crushers and its cylinder assemblies vented so that theselected crusher may be cleared without releasing the pneumatic releasepressure or affecting the leakage-compensating line on the othercrushers in the system.
 2. The structure of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that the capacity of the receiver is such and thevalving is arranged so that any one selected crusher may be vented andrecharged from the receiver without disturbing the pressure level in anyother crusher in the system and the resulting equalization pressurebetween the receiver and the selected one crusher is adequate for normaloperation of the selected one crusher.
 3. In a pneumatic release systemfor a cone crusher and the like, the crusher having a circumferentialmain frame with a circumferential flange on an upper portion of the mainframe and a bowl supporting ring tiltably mounted on and above the mainframe flange with a bowl supported on the ring opposite a crushing headmounted for gyration within the main frame, the release system beingconstructed to hold the ring normally fixed in relation to the mainframe while permitting it to tilt upwardly in relation to the main framein response to excessive crushing forces at any point about the mainframe, the system including a group of pneumatic release cylinderassemblies disposed about the frame of the crusher with means forcausing each cylinder to bear against both the main frame flange and thebowl-supporting ring so that they pneumatically oppose the crushingstresses as a group, manifold piping interconnecting all of the cylinderassemblies on the crusher, a source of pneumatic pressure, a receiverconnected thereto, a supply line from the receiver to the crusher forrefilling the crusher release system after venting and clearing, asecond line from the receiver to the crusher to compensate for leakage,and valving in the supply line, the second line and the manifold pipingconstructed and arranged so that the cylinder assemblies may be ventedand the crusher cleared without affecting the leakage compensating lineto the crusher.